A SYMPHONY orchestra will mark its 50th anniversary with a celebration concert tomorrow.

Blackburn Symphony Orchestra has performed hundreds of concerts since its formation in 1965 as Blackburn Sinfonia.

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Saturday’s concert at Westholme School, Meins Road, will see 65 musicians take to the stage to perform works by Shostokovich, Beethoven and Rimsky-Korsakov.

The evening will be a special one for two musicians who have been a part of the orchestra since its beginning.

Founder members Dr Ian Ramage, 84 and 86-year-old Rita Kay, who both play cello, have performed in front of audiences for half-a-century with no signs their enthusiasm is waning.

Dr Ramage was a well known GP in the Little Harwood area before his retirement 22 years ago.

He said: “It’s been a pleasure to rehearse and perform with such talented musicians over the decades.

“I still get a thrill when the conductor raises his baton and we begin to play at a show.

“I’ve certainly had the privilege of playing with some excellent people and perform a lot of wonderful music.”

For Rita, a former music teacher who lives in the Dukes Brow area, the orchestra was the place where she met her future husband.

She said: “I’m proud that the orchestra is celebrating 50 years.

“I met my late husband Thomas at orchestra rehearsals. At the the time I played double-bass and he was a violinist.

“ We had the enormous privilege of playing in the orchestra alongside two of our children, Peter and Shena.”

The orchestra rehearse weekly at Mellor Methodist Church and normally do three concerts per year.

Tomorrow’s concert begins at 7.30pm.